Why Renewable Energy?

Electricity generation is the leading cause of industrial air pollution
in the U.S. Most of our electricity comes from coal, nuclear,
and other non-renewable power plants. Producing energy from
these resources takes a severe toll on our environment, polluting
our air, land, and water.

Renewable energy sources can be used to produce electricity
with fewer environmental impacts. It is possible to make electricity
from renewable energy sources without producing CO2, the leading cause of global climate change.

But first, just what is renewable energy? Renewable energy is energy derived from natural resources that replenish themselves over a period of time without depleting the Earth's resources. These resources also have the benefit of being abundant, available in some capacity nearly everywhere, and they cause little, if any, environmental damage. Energy from the sun, wind, and thermal energy stored in the Earth's crust are examples. For comparison, fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas are not renewable, since their quantity is finite—once we have extracted them they will cease to be available for use as an economically-viable energy source. While they are produced through natural processes, these processes are too slow to replenish these fuels as quickly as humans use them, so these sources will run out sooner or later.

25% of nitrogen oxides (NOx), which react
with sunlight to create ground level ozone and smog, come from
electricity generation. Ozone and smog irritate the lungs and
lower resistance to infections like influenza, according to
the American Lung Association.

Ozone (O3) occurs naturally in the upper
atmosphere where it is beneficial. However, ozone in the
lower atmosphere creates the urban haze which we call smog.
Automobiles and electricity generation are the top contributors
to ground level ozone. It causes over 1.5 million significant
respiratory problems per year in children and adults. Short
term effects include coughing, lung irritation and exacerbation
of respiratory disease. Long term effects include chronic
lung disease and even cancer.

Particulate matter is a type of air pollution more commonly referred to as soot. Exposure to particulate matter is especially harmful to people with lung disease (e.g. asthma, bronchitis, emphysema) and heart disease.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a climate change gas that causes global warming. Global warming can lead to the spread of infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. It also contributes to air quality problems, which increase the health effects of other air pollutants. Long-term effects associated with fossil fuel burning could be even more alarming than air pollution-related deaths today. In the future, tropical diseases could thrive as the earth's climate warms, and deaths due to extreme weather conditions (e.g. hypothermia) could increase.

Nuclear energy poses the unique threats
of radioactive waste and radiation. Waste from nuclear
energy facilities is dangerous to transport and to dispose
of. In addition, there is potential for a disastrous nuclear
accident, like Chernobyl. Health effects
of radioactive waste include cancer, sterility and even
death. Radiation may cause immune system damage, leukemia,
miscarriages, stillbirths, deformities and genetic mutations.

Mercury is a highly toxic metal that is released from coal-fired power plants. Mercury accumulates in the fat cells of fish and other animals. When humans eat the fish, they are exposed to mercury. Mercury causes permanent damage to the liver and central nervous system, causing loss of motor function, slurred speech, tunnel vision, and loss of hearing. Mercury is particularly harmful when ingested by pregnant or nursing women as it can cause birth defects and developmental defects. Because mercury accumulates in biological organisms it is constantly being recycled in the environment as it moves up the food chain.

According to two studies by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)1, if the U.S. were to supply 10% of its electricity from renewables by 2020 the following would occur:

Jobs: 91,220 new jobs—nearly twice as many as generating the electricity from fossil fuels

Economic development: $41.5 billion in new capital investment, $5.7 billion in income to farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners, and $2.8 billion in new local tax revenues

Healthier environment: reductions of global warming pollution equal to taking from 25 million to 32 million cars off the road, plus less haze, smog, acid rain, mercury contamination, and water use

Price Stability

Renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro and geothermal do not entail fuel costs or require transportation, and therefore offer greater price stability. In fact, some electric utilities factor this into their retail electricity prices, exempting customers that buy renewables from certain charges.

Electricity and the Environment

Traditional electricity generation is responsible for the emission
of a host of chemicals with widespread environmental impacts. The same compounds that are detrimental to human health hav similar consequences for the natural environment. Electricity generation from fossil fuels is responsible for:

38% of the nation's carbon dioxide2 (CO2),
a greenhouse gas and major contributor to climate change. Carbon dioxide
is released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned.
Climate change is a serious environmental threat that may
contribute to coastal flooding, more frequent and extreme
heat waves, more intense droughts, an increase in the number
of severe storms, and the increased spread of infectious diseases.

66% of the nation's sulfur dioxide (SO2) when
combined with rain water, creates acid rain. Acid rain
damages the foliage of forests, crops, and other plants,
and eventually can kill the plants. It also acidifies rivers and
lakes causing them to be biologically "dead." Acidification
also alters the chemistry of soil, releasing harmful metals into
rainwater runoff and groundwater. Sulfur dioxide also accelerates
the decay of stone and paint, damaging many buildings and
monuments.

40% of the nation's mercury3 contributes
to contamination of soil and waterways. Mercury can circulate in
the air for up to one year and can be transported thousands of miles
from its source. Mercury accumulates in the fatty tissue of fish
and is constantly being recycled in the environment as it moves
up the food chain. Mercury causes permanent damage to the
liver and central nervous system and can cause birth defects.

25% of nitrogen oxides (NOx), which react with
sunlight to create ground level ozone and smog. Nitrogen
oxide deposition causes algae blooms in lakes and streams. This
depletes the water of oxygen, killing fish and other living organisms.
Nitrogen dioxide has also been shown to cause pulmonary disease
in animals.

Particulate matter is the major cause of reduced
visibility (haze) in the U.S. Coal-fired power plants are the single
largest source of emissions of particulate pollution - soot particles
made of ash (heavy metals, radioactive isotopes, hydrocarbons, sulfates,
and nitrates) that can transport and deposit trace metals such as
mercury hundreds of miles from their source. Soot stains and damages
stone and other materials, damaging many of our buildings and monuments.
After traveling long distances, particles settle on ground or water,
causing these effects:

making lakes and streams acidic

changing the nutrient balance in coastal waters and large river basins